Recording sax on a budget: microphone shootout! 

A great straightforward explanation of how these mics work. Thanks Dr. Wally!

Very timely as I just bought my second mic. Thanks for the overview!

excellent video. very informative and clarifies certain areas i had no knowledge at all in. thank you

Thanks Dr. Wally! This is a very timely video for me, and I look forward to watching! I was just thinking this morning about getting a decent recording setup to self-reflect on my toots and honks. Happy holidays!

Had the good fortune to do a sound set-up course last year at our local arts centre...so interesting, and much to learn! That condenser mike is lovely!

Thanks for the video - a good summary of the mics. I started out using SM57, but changed to an Aton Microphone Origin condenser - they are very good and great value for money.

Very good educational video which along with Tyler's videos has given me a understanding of what I need for recording my saxophone.

Thank you Dr. Wally. Very informative and timely. This helps with wading through the weeds regarding recording equipment.

I was going to start recording my practice today. If I sound bad, I now know that I really can blame it on my cellphone. So many toys I need and so little money. Anyway, this was a very informative video. Tonight, as I settle down for my long winters nap I’m going to have visions of ribbon mics dancing in my head.

Useful information not just for sax players, but of all kinds of wind instrument.

Thank you. Great demonstration of the various microphones, and we were able to clearly hear the differences. Suggestion that a metronome is used as the timing for the demonstration was distracting Lee off. Another great one, sir.

Another great video, my friend!

Great video ...very informative. Outside the scope of the microphone itself the recording space is very to important to consider as well. Having even a small space, ( I use a closet full of clothes and foam sound insulation), cuts down room reflection significantly which usually translates into unwanted brightness and a lot of EQ work.

Excellent Dr. W!

Very timely video for me. Thanks! My USB condenser mic will pick up the neighbors across the street doing yardwork and even just talking. Not trying to ruin my recordings or be a creep!

Another great video! I was surprised how close these mics sound in the testing (RU-vid probably compresses out some of the differences). In my own testing, I generally hear a lot more difference with the SM57 having a bit harsher sound (peaks around 2-3khz), ribbon sounding warmer and more natural and Condenser picking up the widest range of highest highs etc. (I'll hear the birds outside in playback - lol) -- but these all sounded really good in your test here and by the time you mix the sax into a backing track I think you'd have a hard time guessing which mic was which. It would be interesting to include the same comparison with a bright/edgy mouthpiece like a Berg and a bright edgy playing style.

For amateurs like me, I have the Scarlett interface, a wireless clip-on mic, a dynamic (a shure knock-off) and a condenser (AT-200?). The interface was a great investment as it simplifies all your hookups. I used to use usb mics, even had that black Yeti Wally is using there. But the recordings are much better since I went with the interface and xlr cables. It’s a wise move. I also have 3 rakes. (and a snowblower).

Thanks Doc, this is a great video, especially useful as I am stressing about how to record my first submission of the Saxophone Academy Private studio, which I highly recommend to anyone wishing to study the sax. Go easy on me when you hear it!!!

Great Video! It will be useful. Thanks.

Thanks Doc. Great as always. Timely too; an activity I need to start. Big time. With the condenser mic, even the little bit of key noise from Tyler's horn, was a distraction. Off topic, I have played my JP AS-400 so much since June, that it has created its own percussion section. I am going to learn and do repair myself. An Army Band RU-vid channel has a great MSG mechanic that is amazing for learning. Have a great day. P.S. you should probably make sure your support platoon sergeant has a published quiet time schedule for your lawn & garden squad.

Nady had a great Ribbon for around 150 several years ago - happy with it!

Mics will only do what they were designed to do and some mics weren’t designed to make the sax sound accurate or even sound good. I‘ve been through SM57’s, modded SM57‘s, Beyerdynamic M88 TG, small diaphragm condensers ($500 AKG) and opted for the detail of a large diaphragm condenser over a ribbon mic. I just purchased a matched pair of Roswell Mini K87s and I can‘t wait to record our sax quartet with them. I also purchased a Roswell Mini K67X, which will produce a little more of the “warmth” compared to the clean and accurate K87s.

Great video, I wish there was a video like this focusing on sax recording when I started getting into it. I have the basic Scarlett 2i2 and a cheap Shure SM57 and AKG P120, which both do great since I'm just a casual player, but I definitely want to upgrade my condenser into something like a Audio-Technica AT4040.

Hi Dr. Wally. Great video…something people are asking all-the-time! You and your “little friend” are a wealth of knowledge. One thing though……. You don’t seriously mow your own lawn, do you? But then you are a retro kind of guy. I bet you use a push mower! No wait. You do have a PhD, so certainly you are smart enough to use a power mower. No wait CERTAINLY you are smart enough to pay someone else to do it!! But then it’s probably a nice break from practicing. 😂😂😂. Seriously, thanks for all you do!

This is great. I just sent a similar question in to TSA.

Thanks for the review vid! Just throwing this out there, maybe it's helpful to someone. If you are on a budget like me, you really need to factor in the cost of the entire setup. I went with a USB mic for my beginner setup because I wanted a better mic then just my phone and wanted to prioritize a solid pair of monitoring headphones as well (otherwise how do I know how well the recorded sound is?). I went with a Samson C01U Pro that was on sale. It's older tech with a 16 bit adc and still has a USB type B connector, but the frequency response is significantly better than a phone mic. I also bought a USB type B to lightning cable to use with garage band on my iPhone. Since I was able to get a mic stand and monitor headphones, I can upgrade to a XLR setup down the road pretty easily. In contrast, the Focusrite solo studio is $200 to $250 as of this writing. I did not pay this amount, my headphones are better, and I have a mic stand. If I had the money, I would get really fancy with a dual mic setup and the hardware needed to dynamically adjust for phase differences.

I’m a big rake fan. Lately I just clean off the sidewalks, driveway,and some borders. Our garden club emphasizes natural decomposition and has a “leave the leaves” theme this year. I have a blower, but use it to clean the small debris after raking. (cf 10:20)

As a dynamic mic, I'd suggest the SE V7x which sounds much more natural than the SM57 for the same budget. Behringer HD204, mic stand, XLR cable, in-ear monitors and you're set.

I have a classic Sennheiser 441-U microphone. I've heard a few $1,000 + mics that sound as good, but none that sound better, especially for live work.

The Ribbon right away reminded of the old parker and Coltrane recordings.

I thought the Voodoo sounded best to my RU-vid speaker system, but the KSM44A isn't too bad. I'm not the biggest fan of the SM57, but I see their appeal for live performance. Watching the Sononauts video, it looks like Wally was possibly using a U87 with a Coles 4030? That sounds like a nice setup if budget isn't a problem. Wall treatments to the room is a way to up your sound quality as well, and that doesn't have to cost too much. However, practicing your sax is the best way to make it sound better IMO and Tyler was sounding very good! Nice job.

I’ve not had the chance to compare to more expensive mics, but I have been pretty happy with my Rode NT1a.

I missed Tyler’s RU-vid page. Can you repost? Great video!

My (one word) impressions of the 3 mics: SM57: bright, ribbon: warmer, condenser: accurate.

What is the name of the song Tyler played in the demo? Thanks berforehand, and as always: great content!

Any chance of you reviewing the new CloudVocal FastTrack mic?

Link please 12:43 :) Been listening to Tyler Anderson for a bit and his sound quality goes really above and beyond

Thank you! Do plan to show how to edit the audio file? Best regards from germany.

hooooooooooooooooooo new setup ?!

I like the KSM44A. Unfortunately it is beyond my budget.

Hey Dr wally Wallace got a question on the jean pual saxophone? How can I get in contact with you?

Hi adr Wally, I use an apogee, can you give advice on how to improve the sound when recording with this device please? And, on a budget. 😊

I have a lot leaves to deal with. My blower gives me a lot more time to go practice saxophone.

Condenser. Then the 57. I will prefer a 58, but it will pick up more ambient sounds and as Brian said the 57 is more harsh. Distance and position, isolation make a huge difference. And never record with compression. Add all that in the mix.

How about some advice on mics, mix positions, eqs for live applications.

Okay. Dynamics... a 57 will never do you any favors- I consider it an insult. Same price, FAR better choice: SE V7. Great on horns, flutes, and vocals, with the same off-axis rejection as a 57. Moving up the price range, Beyerdynamic M 201, which sounds true and is even better at rejection (requires better mic technique); EV RE20- great on sax, kick and talk radio (very bulky); and the Sennheiser 441, which is a more expensive mic than any of the ones in the shootout, but really, really nice. Honorable mention: EV ND 468 (discontinued). Ribbons are wonderful; agree with comments, and they can sound a bit warm or even wooly, but they take eq well, and do a great job of taming high-end bite. Also try a Coles 4038 or a Royer 121 or 122. Condensers... absolutely, but they're very sensitive, picking up a lot of room reflections and outside sound, and few inexpensive condenser mics have flattering off axis response, therefore they need to be used in a good sounding space, or with a reflection filter for recording. I'm currently loving a medium-diaphragm (yes, virginia) condenser stage vocal mic, the Earthworks SR314.

☮️🎶🎵🎷

Mmh how about a mic uner $50

The video and audio arre out of sync slightly, still a great video.

I feel your pain about the lawn care people. Early in the morning and late in the day. I just want to live in a hobbit hole in the shire.